Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Musical prodigy, supreme melodist
Most quoted
"Since death, when we come to consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence, I have for the past few years made myself so familiar with this truest best friend of mankind that its image is not only no longer terrifying to me, but is indeed very soothing and consoling! And I thank my God for graciously granting me the opportunity of learning that death is the key which unlocks the door to our true happiness. I never lie down at night without reflecting that I may not see the next morning, and yet not one of all my acquaintances could say that I am morose or a bad companion. I daily thank my Creator for this happy disposition and heartily wish that all my fellow-creatures might enjoy it."
— from Letter to his father, 1787
"When I am traveling in a carriage, or walking after a good meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is on such occasions that ideas flow best and most abundantly. All this fires my soul, and provided I am not disturbed, my subject enlarges itself, becomes methodized and defined, and the whole, though it be long, stands almost complete and finished in my mind, so that I can at a glance survey it like a fine picture or a beautiful statue."
— from Letter to his father
"I cannot write poetry; I am not a poet. I cannot arrange the parts of speech with such art as to produce effects of light and shade, for I am not a painter. Even by signs and gestures I cannot express my thoughts and feelings, for I am not a dancer. But I can do so by means of sounds, for I am a musician."
— from Attributed
All quotes by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (304)
Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.
I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.
The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.
I write as a swineherd writes, but I write for the whole world.
I thank my God for graciously granting me the opportunity of learning that death is the key which unlocks the door to our true happiness.
I never force myself to be original.
When I am traveling in a carriage, or walking after a good meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is on such occasions that ideas flow best and most abundantly.
It is a great error to suppose that my art has become easy to me. I assure you, dear friend, no one has devoted so much time and thought to composition as I. There is not a famous master whose music I have not industriously studied many times.
To talk well and eloquently is a very great art, but that of knowing when to stop is no less important.
I cannot write poetry; I am not a poet. I cannot arrange the parts of speech with such art as to produce effects of light and shade, for I am not a painter. Even by signs and gestures I cannot express my thoughts and feelings, for I am not a dancer. But I can do so by means of sounds, for I am a musician.
I write music, not for the critics, but for the people.
The most necessary, most difficult, and most important thing in music is tempo.
I assure you, I am not a man of many words. I am a man of many notes.
I have never in my life written a note for which I have not been paid.
My sole purpose is to make money; for after all, that is the best way to help my poor parents.
What is new, is not good, and what is good, is not new.
I beg you, dear brother, to live in such a way that you may be happy.
I never go to bed without thinking that I may not wake up again.
I am never happier than when I have a new work to compose.
I am a composer, not a politician.
Contemporaries of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Other Musics born within 50 years of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791).